English Explanatory Dictionary

taipan

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A foreign businessman in China; a tycoon.
  2. A tycoon (usually of Chinese Filipino background)
noun
  1. Any venomous elapid snake of the genus Oxyuranus, found in Australia and New Guinea.

Pronunciation

/ˈtaɪpæn/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-taipan.wav

Word forms

taipan taipans taepan tai-pan typan

Etymology

From Cantonese 大班 (daai⁶ baan¹, “big shot, rich businessman”), originally as taepan. Related to tycoon, from Japanese 大君(たいくん) (taikun).

Related words

tycoon

Derived words

Central Ranges taipan coastal taipan inland taipan western taipan Papuan taipan
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